The Yankees' quest for a 28th World Series crown took a dramatic turn when the team's heart and soul suffered the injury in the 12th inning. It came after a stirring ninth-inning rally that was capped by another heroic home run by Raul Ibañez.

"He's such a huge part of this team," Ibañez said. "But we have to pull together."

It was the worst possible news for the Yankees, who announced Sunday that Jeter had a CT scan and MRI that confirmed the ankle was broken. He will travel to Charlotte, N.C., in the coming days to see Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist. Jeter, who did not attend Sunday's game, is on crutches and will not travel with the team to Detroit.

Jeter, 38, has been to the playoffs in 16 of his 17 seasons as the Yankees' starting shortstop and has won five World Series championships.

Girardi said surgery was still a possibility, but Jeter would still be expected to be ready for spring training in February. But how will the Yankees cope now?

"It's terrible," Andy Pettitte said. "We've got to win this series. Somebody will have to step in and fill that spot."

Filling in for Jeter at shortstop Sunday was Jayson Nix, who went 0-for-3.

"I don't think it has to be said I'm not going to replace him," Nix said. "But the bottom line is somebody's got to step up and we've got to fill that role and move on."

Girardi said his message to the team before Sunday's game was that the Jeter injury is yet another obstacle to be overcome -- just like the season-ending injury to closer Mariano Rivera May 3 in Kansas City or losing Pettitte and CC Sabathia to the disabled list within a 24-hour stretch in late June.

"I think the guys want to do it for him," Girardi said. "I really do."

Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter

Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events.